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CONTACT SCBJ Kurt Batdorf, Editor kbatdorf@scbj.com

Realtors’ blog tracks trends

By John Wolcott

SCBJ Editor

Two long-time RE/MAX Northwest Realtors for Snohomish County, Jess and Julie Lyda, track the housing market in a fresh, clear and understandable format that they’re sharing on their real estate blog at www.snohomishcountymarketstatistics.blogspot.com.

Julie recently told SCBJ that their research shows “some positive upward trends,” she said. “ Average home prices are up., median home prices are up, sales are up.”

Her view of the trends are based on her studies for the past 18 months.

“I have been doing an in depth study of the Snohomish County real estate market ... and have produced charts and graphs to show these trends,” she said.

She plans to continue adding graphs, charts and statistics to their blog as her reseaach continues.

“I believe we are now testing the bottom of the market and there are positive signs to be shared with the public. For instance, I have yet to read in the media that home prices have risen the last two months in Snohomish County. Certainly two months of up numbers does not predict a trend, but it does show we are no longer falling off the cliff in terms of house prices,” she said.

“Also,” she wrote, “the foreclosure numbers printed in the media have been way over inflated and I have an article about that in my March archive.”

Reporting on April statistics, she said Snohomish County homes sales are weighted heavily in the $200k - $400k price range, while the market for the over $500K home remains anemic.

“This does not necessarily mean prices are continuing to fall in Snohomish County. The charts and graphs reflect the numbers from “homes that are currently selling.” Foreclosure notices dropped for April 2009 while Trustee Deeds (actual foreclosed homes) remained steady in the low 200’s.

“No spike in foreclosure activity has occured in spite of media reports that foreclosure rates are on the rise. The rate has held steady since peaking in October 2008 at 294,” she found. “Currently, distressed homes sold in Snohomish County represent 46 percent of all closings. This number, compared with new foreclosures happening at the courthouse, shows that current home sales are easily absorbing the amount of foreclosed properties coming available. “